Tihar in Nepal

 In Nepal, Deepawali (called Tihar or Yamapanchak) is a unique and vibrant festival, celebrated over five days with distinct customs that blend reverence for nature, animals, and familial bonds. Here’s how Tihar is celebrated in Nepal:

First Day: Kaag Tihar (Worship of Crows)

• The festival begins by honoring crows, known as messengers of death. People offer rice, sweets, and other food to crows on this day, believing it brings good fortune and drives away sorrow.

Second Day: Kukur Tihar (Worship of Dogs)

• The second day is dedicated to dogs, regarded as protectors and messengers. People garland dogs with marigold flowers, apply tika (a red mark on the forehead), and feed them special treats as a sign of respect and gratitude.
• This day emphasizes the bond between humans and animals, and it’s celebrated with great joy.

Third Day: Gai Tihar and Laxmi Puja (Worship of Cows and Goddess Lakshmi)

• The morning begins with Gai Tihar, where cows are worshipped as symbols of prosperity and sacred animals. People decorate cows with garlands, tika, and offer them the best food.
• In the evening, homes are decorated with oil lamps, candles, and colorful rangolis (artistic patterns on the floor), and families perform Lakshmi Puja (worship of the goddess of wealth). This day is the most vibrant, with lights and songs creating a festive atmosphere.

Fourth Day: Govardhan Puja or Mha Puja (Worship of Self)

• The fourth day is unique, with variations across ethnic communities. For many, this day is Govardhan Puja, honoring Lord Krishna and celebrating the end of the rice harvest.
• In the Newar community, it’s known as Mha Puja, a day for self-worship, symbolizing purification and empowerment. Each person worships themselves to signify self-care and well-being.
• Also, this day marks the Newar New Year (called Nepal Sambat), with people celebrating with traditional feasts and family gatherings.

Fifth Day: Bhai Tika (Celebration of the Sibling Bond)

• The last day, Bhai Tika, is dedicated to honoring the bond between brothers and sisters. Sisters apply tika in various colors to their brothers’ foreheads, symbolizing protection, and brothers give gifts to their sisters.
• Special garlands made from makhamali (a kind of everlasting flower) are exchanged, and siblings pray for each other’s prosperity and long life.

Additional Customs:

• Deusi and Bhailo: Children and youth go from house to house singing traditional songs called Deusi and Bhailo. People offer them money and food as they sing blessings for prosperity.
• Lighting and Decoration: Homes are lit up with oil lamps, candles, and electric lights, and rangolis are made at the entrances to invite prosperity.

In Nepal, Tihar is as much about nature, animals, and family bonds as it is about lights and celebrations. The festival brings communities together, with traditions passed down over generations.

Diwali in India

Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of the most celebrated festivals in India, marked by a wide array of vibrant customs and traditions. Here’s a glimpse into how Diwali is celebrated across India:

Cleaning and Decorating the Home

• People start preparing days in advance by thoroughly cleaning, renovating, and decorating their homes. It’s believed that a clean and well-lit home invites the goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity.
• Homes are adorned with colorful rangoli (artistic designs made with colored powders or flower petals) at the entrance, and beautiful torans (decorative garlands) are hung on doors.

Lighting Lamps and Candles

• Diwali is also called the “Festival of Lights.” People light up their homes with diyas (oil lamps), candles, and fairy lights, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.

Worship (Puja) of Deities

• Lakshmi Puja is central to Diwali celebrations. Families gather to pray to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha, seeking blessings for wealth, prosperity, and happiness.
• After the puja, it’s common to distribute offerings as prasad (food blessed in the ritual) among family and friends.

Fireworks and Sparklers

• Fireworks and sparklers are a hallmark of Diwali, and people celebrate by setting off firecrackers, enjoying the sound and lights that add to the festive cheer.
• Recently, there’s an emphasis on eco-friendly celebrations to reduce pollution, with many people opting for green crackers or skipping fireworks altogether.

Exchanging Sweets and Gifts

• Diwali is a time for exchanging gifts and sweets with loved ones. Boxes of traditional sweets like laddus, barfis, and jalebis are shared among friends, family, and neighbors.
• People often buy gifts like clothes, jewelry, and home decor, and it’s common to share gifts with employees and business associates.

Feasting and Gathering

• Diwali is celebrated with delicious meals and snacks unique to each region. Families prepare special dishes, such as gujiya, samosas, chakli, and other traditional items.
• It’s a time for family reunions, gatherings, and sharing meals together.

Different Days of Diwali

• Diwali typically spans five days, each with its significance:
  • Dhanteras: First day, dedicated to wealth and prosperity; people buy precious metals and items.
  • Naraka Chaturdashi: Also called Choti Diwali, a day for cleaning and early morning oil baths.
  • Lakshmi Puja: Main day of Diwali, where the worship of Goddess Lakshmi takes place.
  • Govardhan Puja: Celebrated mainly in the North, marking Lord Krishna’s lifting of Govardhan Hill.
  • Bhai Dooj: Celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters.

Across different states, these traditions may vary in flavor, but the spirit of unity, joy, and hope is universal.

Divali a Festival of Light

Festival of Light for Hindus is celebrated primarily by offering light for prosperity. Based on the language, it is called Divali, Deepawali, Tihar or Deepavali but moreover it is the celebration
and players with fireworks and feast. This is how this festival is celebrated in the different parts of the world.

Diwali is celebrated widely across South Asia and in many parts of the world where Indian and South Asian communities reside. Here are some of the main places where Diwali is celebrated:

India

• As the country where Diwali originated, India celebrates it extensively across all states, although customs and traditions may vary regionally. Diwali is a major public holiday, with vibrant festivities, family gatherings, and community events.

Nepal

• Known as Tihar in Nepal, Diwali celebrations are unique, honoring not only lights and prosperity but also animals like crows, dogs, and cows. Nepalese people perform special rituals over five days, with each day dedicated to specific animals, gods, or familial bonds.

Sri Lanka

• Diwali, or Deepavali as it's known in Sri Lanka, is primarily celebrated by the Tamil Hindu community, especially in the Northern and Eastern provinces. The celebrations include lighting oil lamps, fireworks, feasts, and prayers.

Malaysia

• Known as a public holiday called Deepavali in Malaysia, it is celebrated mainly by the Tamil Hindu community. Temples are decorated, homes are adorned with kolam (a form of rangoli), and people light lamps and share sweets.

Singapore

• In Singapore, Deepavali is a major festival celebrated by the Indian community, with festivities in Little India and other parts of the city. Streets are lit up, and temples host prayer events. It’s also a public holiday.

Mauritius

• With a significant Hindu population, Mauritius celebrates Diwali as a public holiday, with lighting of lamps, community gatherings, and cultural performances.

हामीलाई विकास चाहिन्छ तर के गर्ने ?

 

हाम्रा गाउँहरू हिमाल भन्दा टाढा छन् र बादलभन्दा माथि छन् । त्यहाँ पुग्न दिनौ लाग्छ। 

हामी ती ठाउँहरूमा सडक जोड्न चाहन्छौं। हिमालयबाट आउने खोलामाथि पुल राख्न चाहन्छौं ।

हामी हाम्रो गाउँलाई माया गर्छौं, हामी हाम्रो गाउँ पुग्न सहज होस् भन्ने  चाहन्छौं। तर कसरी?

पहाडहरू धेरै ठूला छन्। तिनीहरू अस्थिर छन्। हामीले बनाएका सडक पहाडको  तुलनामा धेरै साना छन्, पहाड अलिकति एता उता भए पनि सडक भत्किन्छ । एउटै ढुङ्गाले सडकमा दौडिरहेको सवारीलाई नष्ट गर्न सक्छ। पुल निर्माण गर्न महिनौं वा वर्ष लाग्छ तर उही पुललाई नदीले एक मिनेटमा बगाउन सकिन्छ। 

यसै त एती गाह्रो छ कि यो दुई विशाल देशहरू बीचमा  छ। भूगोल पनि हाम्रोमा कठिन  छ।

हामीलाई गाउँ जोड्न आवश्यक छ, हामीलाई सडक चाहिन्छ, हामीलाई धेरै पूर्वाधार चाहिन्छ तर हामी सचेत हुन आवश्यक छ हाम्रो विकास हाम्रो भूगोल अनुसार हुनुपर्छ। यदि हामी प्रकोपबाट प्रभावित हुन्छौं भने, हामीले सजिलो र छिटो तरिकाले समस्याको समाधान ल्याउनु पर्छ।  

Bijaya Dashami: History and Significance

 Dashain, also known as Dashami,Vijayadashami or Dussehra, is one of the most significant festivals in Nepal, celebrated by Hindus across the country and in some regions of India and Bhutan. In India, it's particularly prominent in states like West Bengal, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. This festival typically spans 15 days, culminating in the main celebration on the day of Dashami.

Historical and Mythological Background

Dashain commemorates the victory of the goddess Durga over the buffalo demon Mahishasura, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. The festival is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, with stories of various deities, particularly Durga, who embodies strength and power. The festival also marks the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana

Significance of Dashain

1. Victory of Good Over Evil: Dashain represents the eternal battle between good and evil, emphasizing the importance of righteousness.

2. Family Reunion: It is a time for families to come together, often involving long journeys back to ancestral homes.

3. Worship and Rituals: During Dashain, people perform rituals to honor their deities, particularly the goddess Durga, and seek blessings for health, prosperity, and success.

4. Animal Sacrifice: In some communities, animal sacrifices are made as offerings to appease the deities.

Celebrations and Traditions

• Ghatasthapana: The festival begins with Ghatasthapana, where a sacred jar (ghata) filled with water is placed in a sacred space, marking the start of the nine-day Navaratri.

• Navaratri: The first nine days are dedicated to the worship of Durga, where each day is associated with a different form of the goddess.

• Dashami: The tenth day, Dashami, is the climax of the festival, where families receive blessings from elders, often accompanied by the exchange of tika (a mixture of rice, yogurt, and vermilion) and jamara (barley grass).

• Feasting and Celebrations: The festival is marked by feasting, social gatherings, and various cultural activities, including dances and music.

  Common Practices

1. Rituals and Pujas: People perform rituals to bid farewell to Goddess Durga, often involving immersion of her idol in water bodies. Special prayers and offerings are made.

2. Ramlila and Dussehra Melas: In many places, theatrical performances called Ramlila are held, depicting the life of Lord Rama. Effigies of Ravana, Meghnath, and Kumbhkaran are burned in public displays, symbolizing the defeat of evil.

3. Family Gatherings: Families come together to celebrate, share festive meals, and exchange sweets.

4. Cultural Events: Various cultural activities, including dance, music, and art performances, are organized to mark the occasion.

5. New Beginnings: It’s considered an auspicious time to start new ventures or buy new items, symbolizing the triumph of good fortune.

Dashain is not only a religious observance but also a time of joy, cultural expression, and familial bonding. It reflects the rich traditions of Nepal and the enduring themes of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.

नेपाल सरकार र AI

 

परराष्ट्रमन्त्री डा. आरजु राणा देउवाले Artificial Intelligence AI (आर्टिफिसियल इन्टेलिजेन्स) एआइको प्रयोग मानवताको साझा हित तथा सबैको समृद्धिका लागि जिम्मेवार र मर्यादित रूपमा गरिनुपर्ने बताउनुभएको छ ।